#that subtext is text at this point

[darkpoisonouslove]

Imagine having the same colour palette as your Ex-lover aka enemy aka the person who wants to subjugate the entire magical dimension and wants to destroy everyone you care about.

You mean one of the greatest design decisions of all time?????

It's almost like they're implying certain things about the characters (or well, Griffin at least since he was always wearing that same outfit but she made some changes to her wardrobe) if you believe this shared color palette was intentional. Which... how are you going to invent almost the exact same color palette accidentally and for the same show, for characters who not only interact, but used to be partners? This does not sound like a coincidence at all. So then we're left with the question of what was going through Griffin's head when she switched to his color scheme after the final battle on Domino.

Take a look:

Her first outfit from when she actually worked with Valtor is purple but it is a completely different shade from his purple and there's no red in sight. In fact, her hair color is closest to any of the colors he wears, particularly the shade of his pants and vest.

Later in her battle outfit from SotLK the purple is almost completely gone, replaced by a light blue that turns into very light purple that's barely present in her outfit during the show. Seems like she was trying to escape from her association with Valtor. Except for the cape that is starting to suspiciously remind of Valtor's coat as it is mere shades away from being the exact same color.

And then:

MA'AM?????? Did you steal his clothes????????? Is this some elaborate ritual of mourning - making yourself a living, walking shrine of this man you betrayed?!?!?!?!?!?! It's almost like she said "I cannot bear the thought of there not being any part of Valtor left in the world. Guess I'll start dressing in his colors to literally wear the memory of him and that would be the way the entire world sees me, forever."

Oh, they were insane for this!

P.S. My headcanon is that she started wearing gloves because she hates the mark she's left on the world. Sort of like a subconscious impulse to stop leaving her fingerprints over everything she touches because she's done enough harm. And the gloves are light purple aka the only color that she wears that isn't also part of his color scheme. So it's like she realizes the negative impact their relationship had on all the rest of her interactions with the world which is why she's trying to distance herself from that in order to stop making the universe a worse place. But not only is her color scheme his color scheme but he also wears gloves so that's just another similarity (if only on the surface).

[biggest-gaudiest-patronuses]

i vote that next year instead of reading Dracula we do a Jeeves & Wooster Book Club. those two never got the rabid tumblr shipping fandom they deserved (disqualified for the sheer technicality of being published a century too soon). we must correct this injustice

[lazybakerart]

insane choices horikoshi made #too-many-to-count:

“If there’s anything that could bolster Izuku Midoriya now, it would be…” -> cut to literally izuku being rescued by and looking up at bakugou who’s never looked that pretty once in his gremlin life before now taking up the entire page

[emotinalsupportturtle]

they should just go watch a fucking play, I can't.

[mamath]

Apollo Justice is getting some kinda rerelease so perhaps it is time for me to play those games!! tbh every time i think about it i just end up going back to the og though... like now, when i ended up drawing these fools again ahhh sorry apollo

I had fun (and frustration argh) feeling out those flower shapes! Went through a few different iterations before deciding on these blobby rose-camellia things. I was looking up flower symbolism for like truth and justice for a while but sometimes simple is best

[kenneth-black]

Buck and Eddie stop being embarrassing for each other challenge: [FAILED] 😭😭😭

[milquetoast27]

Subtext in The Creeping Man

I find that this story of Arthur Conan Doyle's Holmes canon features some of the most complex subtext we've had aside from A Study in Scarlet. But rather than being complex early-on because of our lack of knowledge of the characters, it is rather complicated by the fact that we both know too much and too little of their relationship. This story, with astonishing subtlety, conveys the cooperative relationship between Doyle's two characters — the nuance in their limits and strains, but also the joys that they work to reach, together. It emblemises the beauty of the Canon, where it all ties back to the joy and complexity of human understanding and belonging.

This story opens in "those latter days" (1903, near to Holmes's retirement) where Watson describes their relations as "peculiar". The word certainly feels like a euphemism from the ever-polite Dr. Watson, when it is soon made clear that their relations were far from amenable. Watson has become one of Holmes's "concentrated habits", and apparently is as good as a piece of funiture, as all of Holmes's remarks would have been as "appropriately addressed to his bedstead." It's given through snapped sentences; "I was a whetstone for his mind. I stimulated him. He liked to think aloud in my presence." This "irritation" and discordance between them is extremely concentrated in the early pages of this story, but drags through it, as well. Take, for example, the "laconic" (or perhaps iconic?) message:

"COME AT ONCE IF CONVENIENT — IF INCONVENIENT COME ALL THE SAME. S.H."

Watson gives us the original of Holmes's telegram to demonstrate to his readers just how "long-suffering" he is. A true exhaustion is apparent in how he simply shows the telegram, rather than politely referring to it. Compare this with the unendingly civil telegram sent to Watson in The Boscombe Valley Mystery, and you can see the great shift that has taken place in their alliance.

"HAVE YOU A COUPLE OF DAYS TO SPARE? HAVE JUST BEEN WIRED FOR FROM THE WEST OF ENGLAND IN CONNECTION WITH BOSCOMBE VALLEY TRAGEDY. SHALL BE GLAD IF YOU WILL COME WITH ME. AIR AND SCENERY PERFECT. LEAVE PADDINGTON BY THE 11.15."

While long-term and intimate relationships will remove need for over-courtesey, there are two very different reasons for why Doyle has shown both of these telegrams at a point in time. This accumulation of Holmes's ungrateful behaviour not only imparts Watson's utter despondancy, but also, importantly, Holmes’s — and this is something that Watson's ever-perceptive and intelligent heart does not fail to miss. It is important to note that this story nears Holmes's retirement, where he acknowledges that he has been "sluggish in mind". There is no doubt, then, that the great detective is out of his prime. Hence the temperementalness, taking his Watson for granted, and a heavier reliance on those "narrow and concentrated habits."

Despite the turbulent roads of their life, we see Watson's undying devotion co-exist with it. Past all the irritation, Watson closes, "Such was my humble role in our alliance." It is more than clear that he consciously makes the decision to remain at Holmes's side, to be his ally. Such has always been Watson's role in their alliance. His "humble" service extends to his practice as doctor and soldier. His pride is in his duty to others, and to Holmes as his assistant.

There is something that shines through Holmes's unsocial behaviour when we look closely at the text.

I sank back in my chair in some disappointment. Was it for so trivial a question as this that I had been summoned from my work? Holmes glanced across at me. "The same old Watson!" said he. "You never learn that the gravest issues may depend upon the smallest things."

We know from the Canon (opening of DANC and RESI) that Watson's emotions are like an open book to Holmes. This 'sinking in some disappointment' is not missed by Holmes's 'glance'. "The same old Watson!" he says, and I feel it important to note that he compliments one of Watson's most distinguishing features; his stability and fixture — the "one fixed point in a changing age." Yet, we may miss these details, because Holmes, ever in his own insecurity, must back-hand every praise with a teasing chide. We could say that an attempt was made to cheer Watson up, though not very successful.

Developments continue, as Holmes tryingly says "I had hoped to have a longer chat with you", then parades him with compliments before their client, "Dr. Watson is the very soul of discretion". But mixed indications continue to come as he flips back to patronising language; "You will appreciate it, Watson, when"—. Doyle further cements Holmes's particular unbecoming behaviour on this day as he further also annoys their client, who speaks in a "tone of reproach" when Holmes does not listen, and is "clearly annoyed" at irrelevant interruptions — to which, Holmes only smiles in, what I believe, is pure self-importance.

Here we find a shift — a greater effort on Holmes's part, a second round of appreciation for Watson's stability, even when his opinion is faulty. "Good, Watson! You always keep us flat-footed on the ground". He's then included in his bubble; "We were gradually coming to that conclusion, were we not, Watson?", and even a sordid attempt at bringing Watson with him on the bait of the Chequers in 'Camford' where "the port used to be above mediocrity and the linen was above reproach." (Which he follows up on!)

And, despite these attempts, their connection still does not rekindle. Watson is clearly irritated still with the inconsiderate easiness with which Holmes was able to leave London, leaving only difficulty on Watson's end to join him. It's an indicator from Doyle that nothing's remedied, yet.

Here is an interesting passage for study.

"Have you the effrontery necessary to put it through?" "We can but try." "Excellent, Watson! Compound of the Busy Bee and Excelsior. We can but try — the motto of the firm."

Burstive praise from Holmes at the merest utterance of a phrase — a phrase which has only ever been used one other time in the Canon; the previous story, The Problem of Thor Bridge. This suggests it may be some small motto of Holmes's, though one not often seen in Watson's records — this makes his use of the phrase a very Holmesian approach. This participation, no doubt, is nothing but a delight for Holmes, who is trying to restring their relationship, and continues to overenthusiastically affirm Watson's sturdiness.

Yet it's made clear that superficial praises are not a true apology, as we see signs yet again of Watson's dispassion. As they sit to their meeting with Professor Presbury, Watson writes:

Mr. Holmes smiled amiably.

This sentence may seem unassuming, but be assured it is one of the coldest in the Canon. This usage of "Mr. Holmes" is entirely unique within the Canon. In other times, when Watson has used "Mr. Holmes" or "Mr. Sherlock Holmes", it has been when speaking directly to his readers, since they would be using the honourific. This moment is the only exception, where Watson has intentionally used "Mr." to create distance and convey undesire for intimacy with Holmes (rather than any professional effect). Why has Watson used the line here? Well, Holmes is 'smiling amiably' — in a way that forces a friendly manner, one that attempts to create a good impression with Professor Presbury — which also didn't work out, by the way. Considering all the superficial means up to now employed by Holmes on his companion, Watson no doubt feels cheapened and no more important than Holmes's investigative objects; as if his trust is just as easy to gain as anyone else's, with nothing but an 'amiable smile'.

We are shown time and again that Watson isn't pleased with Holmes's desultory attempts at reconciliation, until finally, a shift happens. One that is not identifiable in the text, and so is reasonable to assume happened unpenned. We find Holmes acknowledging that "Dr. Watson has his patients to attend to", when before this information seemed completely irrelevant to him. Holmes even sent Watson a "short note asking [him] to meet at the train"! The greatest change is when we finally have Watson using "my friend" and "my comrade" for the first time in this story. Now we see Watson taking real excitement in the case, in the "assurance of [his] comrade". Self-teasing also makes its way into their dialogue as Holmes cries "Oh, Watson, Watson, what a fool I have been!" The emphasised address seems to suggest an apology for something more. It's as if he cries 'Look how wrong I have been Watson, how imperfect and daft I can be!' It's adorable, really.

All semblances of reproach towards Holmes disappear as they steal together in darkness, come to the dénoument of their adventure, as Holmes philosophises on science and nature, and described admiringly as "the man of action". Our story ends in a light-hearted resolution, as always.

"There is an early train to town, Watson, but I think we shall just have time for a cup of tea at the Chequers before we catch it."

To conclude, this story presents so much so subtly in its pages; a reflection of the small, nuanced and unseen processes between human beings, but those which we must be attentive to in order to find fuller understanding between each other. Yet, there is still much uncertainty in my inferences; which also shows the uncertainty of language and communication. We simply must be clear of ourselves, as we can only assume Holmes and Watson were, off-page, for them to have found that resolution, rather than fleeting smiles and compliments. Arthur Conan Doyle, with this story, further cements the triumph of bonds and connection, perhaps far more than any other of his stories.

[castiels-undercoat]

When I'm really at my lowest I just have to remember there were things, people, and feelings that Dean wanted to experience differently then he had before or maybe even for the first time

[puppyeared]

i feel like im not making any sense but does anyone else feel like there are stories that let u run with them and ones that spell everything out for you

[gwifirusu]

rotb spoilers//

i like how you don’t even have to ask if noah and mirage ever explored each other’s bodies. they canonically have. noah was inside mirage for like half the movie, even. they literally become one on screen. merry yaoimas everyone

[angelmachines]

teru enjoyers we can never forget what the anime took from us

[sulky-cabbage]

I'm convinced Kashimo is supposed to be the representative of gojo's inner feelings and thoughts.

For a number of reasons..

Reason number 1:

The similar appearance.

The fact that making two characters look similar is a very common way for mangakas to indicate that these characters have the same values and the same way of thinking or even a similar role (or a character arc).

An example that comes to mind is Bakugo and Kudo from my hero academy:

This happens A LOT in anime & manga and I'm pretty sure that gege wanted us to think of Gojo whenever we see Kashimo.

Interesting colors Gege👀

With blue eyes, and the the kanji for purple cloud in his surname

He even has the frog face

TWINS

Reason number 2:

I think Kashimo is basically Gojo but with more freedom, he can be feral whenever he wants and he even kills people.

And that's why he always ends up expressing what we know Gojo is thinking but isn't speaking out loud.

And once you see it you can't unsee it.

Here are some examples:

Gojo appears to be having such a great time, that Yuji wonders if he's thinking of Megumi at all. and Kashimo Starts acting as though he's relieving Satoru of the guilt of enjoying himself in this situation???

(This panel is actually what opened my third eye and made me theorize that maybe Kashimo is meant to tell us what Satoru isn't saying)

And I wasn't disappointed with the next chapters...

He's the only one that gets Satoru here.

Also there's this interesting thing here:

"Kashimo vs Sukuna!! Facing off in their true forms!!"

I find it interesting that Sukuna only turned into his true form after he killed Satoru...

It's like he only came forth after Satoru's "true" form (Kashimo) came out idk idk.

And the fact that he used the weapon Yorozu gave him on Kashimo. Hmmm

Reason number 3:

Gege always draws a connection between them.

Satoru's fight and Kashimo's are treated as one..

After Satoru died; the Kashimo fight starts immediately, and he gets killed in two chapters.

He gets to talk about love and loneliness with Sukuna after he died (we didn't get that with gojo it went to Kashimo)

The fight of the strongest is over.

We cut to Kenjaku's fight.

Gege literally made a character whose only goal was to fight Sukuna then he killed him in a single chapter.

That tells me gege only made him for that conversation about love 🤷‍♀️

The conclusion:

(This is what made me make this post in the first place 🤭)

If we accept that Kashimo is the representative of Gojo's inner self then...

We can safely assume that Gojo would've thought the following regarding Sukuna's true form:

(He's Using a special kind of visual prowess too...)

Think about it...

What Kashimo was saying about people being like dirt to him was kind of bad.

If that was truly how Gojo views people then I bet he was feeling guilty about it, no wonder he didn't say that shit to anyone.

He told Geto he views them as a flower. Satoru I love you T_T

(Gojo relating more to curses than humans walk with me) that's why he gets freaky with them.

But Viewing humans as nothing, and on top of that admiring the king of curses??? and calling him Perfection??? Beautiful even???

Nah.. Nanami was right this mf Satoru is a jujutsu pervert😭😭

Like.....

This is the conversation they were having after they saw him fight...

Gege Why are you bringing it up now indeed

Hmmmmmmmm

👀👀👀👀

[qpjianghu]

(...but what if I was?)

Li Lianhua / Li Xiangyi | Mysterious Lotus Casebook (2023)

[symptomofgout]

the narrative of kaveh being an idiot is so baffling to me because he is, quite literally, canonically considered a genius…? why is the popular consensus “6000 IQ alhaitham and his lovably stupid roommate kaveh” when every npc commenting on kaveh refers to his intellect & talent, the literal god of wisdom says kaveh has an “almost-perfect grasp of what it truly means for sumeru to be a nation of wisdom” (whereas she questions alhaitham’s wisdom in her line about him), and alhaitham’s own story profile calls kaveh a genius multiple times??? like the whole point is that he’s alhaitham’s intellectual equal despite having entirely separate worldviews and demeanors, which frustrates alhaitham to no end — ‘how can someone so smart do all of these things that, to me, are so evidently stupid?’ the takeaway from their dynamic should NOT be kaveh is dumb, but rather that empathy and emotion aren’t actually the opposites of logic and intelligence, but sadly both alhaitham and the realm of academia as a whole are too blinded by their own definitions of logic to fully realize that.

tl;dr kaveh is not dumb by any standards and i will prove it

(under the cut: quotes/screenshots/etc proving this + more. please spread the gospel and dispel ignorance. amen)

some npc voicelines (there are more but i’m lazy):

these are pretty self-explanatory — kaveh is a widely-renowned scholar, architect, and engineer throughout sumeru. he graduated from the akademiya with flying colors, students were desperate to take his classes, etc.

nahida’s voicelines:

both are intelligent but only one is wise: kaveh. alhaitham is too restricted by his narrow definition of wisdom (read: what he deems ‘logical’) to look beyond himself and grasp that there’s more to intellect and knowledge than pure cold rationality. he can’t comprehend that empathy and intellect aren’t fundamentally incompatible — in fact, they’re best when put hand in hand. kaveh is one of the few scholars capable of valuing emotions, empathy, and artistic endeavors, while the rest of the akademiya closes themselves off to that entire realm of knowledge from the get-go. this is what makes kaveh uniquely wise, and what alhaitham lacks. until you understand that emotions and logic can and should coexist, you won’t be successful in the true pursuit of knowledge.

last but not least:

alhaitham’s profile (worth noting that profile stories are pretty much the most reliable source of information on characters’ true beliefs and opinions — their voicelines are still them putting on acts in front of the traveler, but these stories are told from the perspective of an omniscient narrator and are likely closer to the truth):

“two geniuses.” and even after their falling out, “neither of them will deny the other party’s exceptional brilliance” — meaning alhaitham considers kaveh to be exceptionally brilliant. point blank. in the text bro

hilarious line — it’s basically alhaitham saying he doesn’t understand how someone with kaveh’s talent and intellect could have a personality/worldview so different from haitham’s. ‘how can someone that smart be so annoying!!!!!’ and ofc by values we know it’s referring to kaveh’s idealism, empathy, and affinity for the arts

alhaitham considers kaveh to be “another genius,” someone who is so much his intellectual equal that he’s “an excellent mirror” for alhaitham. it’s like an experiment for him — the initial question is “how can someone as smart as me care about all of these things i’ve always believed to be worthless,” the subjects are kaveh and alhaitham, the controlled variable is their intellect. because their intellect is the same, alhaitham is able to study their differences (can’t attribute said differences to varying intellect). alhaitham would never say it out loud — and luckily he doesn’t need to bc his character story tells us — but he’s deeply fascinated by kaveh bc kaveh’s very existence is a threat to haitham’s worldview, & he’s letting kaveh stay with him bc through kaveh, alhaitham learns about not just himself but the outside world and humanity as a whole, and as a scholar, there’s nothing more valuable. (also because he feels comfortable with kaveh [“he’s a familiar face”] and they’re both lonely [“similarly lacks familial attachments”] lol these two are never beating the We Know You Don’t Actually Hate Each Other allegations but that’s a different point so i digress)

IN CONCLUSION:

this is all just the TEXTUAL evidence — people saying “kaveh is smart” — and doesn’t even include all of the obvious implicit signs of kaveh’s intellect (no one who graduates from the akademiya w honors and teaches classes there could be anything other than incredibly intelligent, al “i don’t do anything that i don’t want to do” “i’m not going to bother explaining it to you because you won’t understand” haitham not only puts up with but actively seeks out debates with kaveh which he absolutely would not do if he didn’t respect him or consider him to be of roughly equal intellect, look at the debates he has w alhaitham on sumeru messageboards and TELL ME those messages sound like they were written by an idiot or itto or something [you cant], etc etc etc).

and also this is all from 3.3 (+ 3.4 alhaitham leaks)! we don’t even know kaveh’s rarity yet, that’s how far he is from being playable, but there’s already this much information on just how smart he is! it’s the main thing we know about him — 1) he’s smart, 2) he’s passionate/driven by what he feels is right! why does that keep turning into “LOL HOTHEADED HIMBO”??!

okay look. this is all so extra i know. BUT. i must set the record straight now (god knows it’ll only get worse the closer we get to kaveh’s release) because this sudden-onset mass illiteracy within genshin players is going to send me to an early grave. feel free to use as a resource and educate the ignorant so kaveh does not end up reduced to a one-note meme dumb guy when literally that’s just… not even in the game. i mean at least other annoying OOC fandom interpretations have basis in the game but genshin literally tells u every time it gets the opportunity that Kaveh Is Just As Smart As Alhaitham Because Cold Rationality Does Not Equal Wisdom/Intelligence and losing that would be such a crime because it is by far the most interesting n promising thing hoyo has done with new characters in ages! like, not only are they funny and entertaining, not only are they fascinating incredible foils for one another, but they’re used to make a much-needed argument against the prevalent hegemony of mindless rationality and our “logical” society’s illogical fear of emotion/empathy. but yeah sure, theyre just itto & ayato 2.0, i guess. god. the lack of reading comprehension among genshin players is literally an epidemic

[baconpncakes]

Everything House and Wilson do for each other says "I want to keep you here with me."

Deleting the voicemail, "Maybe I don't want to push this 'til it breaks," lying to the police, "I was worried your wings would melt," loaning money and asking for loans, "Because if you die, I'm alone," trying to get Sam and Wilson to break up, "We'll do it at my place," trying to get House off Vicodin, "I can live without Kyle," Wilson not helping blackmail Nolan when House was at Mayfield, "You're destroying your entire life. You can't go back from this," hiring a private investigator, "I want you to be around as long as possible. 'Cause I don't know what I'm gonna do without you."

[hypermascbishounen]

There's a deep irony in Berserk being so admired by people who really really hate what Berserk is about on an emotional level, but especially when writers want to take influence from it. Because Berserk is very strong thematically, and someone who can't acknowledge subtext is going to whiff on emulating anything good.